Garment-pressing machine



April 8, 1930.

a. w. BROQZKETT GARMENT PRESSING MACHINE Filed N07. 17,1927 4'Sheets-Sheet 1 jTlPE/VTOR @fMMW Y Qttouuq April 8, 1930- B. w. BROCKETT1,753,877

GARMENT PRESSING' MACHINE Filed Nov. 17, 1927 //6 4 Sheets-Sheet 3 April8, 1930.

B. w. B ROCKETT 1,753,877

GARMENT PRESSING MACHINE 4 Sheets-Sheet 4 Filed Nov. 1 1927 PatentedApr. 8, 1939 UNITED STATES PATENT. OFFICE BLUFOBD W. BROCKE'IT, OFCLEVELAND HEIGHTS, OHIO, ASSIGNOB TO THE AMERICAN LAUNDRY MACHINERYCOMPANY, OF NOIBIWOOD, OHIO, A CORPORATION OF OHIO GARMENT-DRESSINGMACHINE Application filed November 17, 1927. Serial No. 233,985.

This invention relates to garment pressing machines o f-the head and bedtype and particularly to the provision of several pressing units, eachincluding a head and bed member and all operated by or common to asingle power pressure producing means.

As the result of the'developmentrof garment presses, it has been foundthat several pressing operations on the same or separate garments may bearranged or laid upon suitabie beds and power pressure applied theretoby one power mechanism all in the same machine. An instance of thisossibility is in the case of the cufis and neck and of a shirt. Hereeach cufi may be arranged upon two separate beds suitably located'andarranged.

upon either side of a central neckband bed which may receive theneckband. With one operator, a cuff is first applied to one bed, theother cuff is applied to the second culf bed and the neckband to thecenter bed. Since these parts of a shirt are small as compared with theremaining portion, it is necessary. that the cuffs be held in engagementwith the beds, or, in other words, in pressing position and thisrequires that the heads cooperating with the cuff beds be capable ofbeing closed upon the work while the neckband is being arranged upon itsbed. This same type of press may also be used where different operationsare performed on different artlcles but where the final pressure may beapplied to all of them at the same time. There are also operations inthe art of pressing garments where several articles may be laid uponseparate beds without being clamped in place and Y all of the headsbrought down to engagement with the" work and power pressure applied tothe heads by a single power means.

In view of the foregoing, the present 1nvention relates to a garmentpressing ma-.

chine wherein a plurality of bed units carried by the one machine haseach of saidv units cooperating with its own separate head unitsupported and mounted upon the same machine. The head units are soarranged that each may be'closed separately upon the work and thereafterfinal pressure means applied to all simultaneously where the key orfinal unit has been closed upon the work, it being until all are readyfor the final pressure.

The invention also contemplates the pro- Vision of an apparatus forperforming the above functions as well ,as the idea of having theseveral heads arranged so that they may all be brought down in unisonand power pressure applied to the several press units by a single powermeans.

Other features of invention will be brought out in the followingdescription, drawingsand claims.

In the dra'wings, Fig. 1 is a side elevation of the machine; Fig. 2 is asimilar view with parts broken away and in section showing the pressclosed; Fig. 3 is a section upon the line 33', Fig. 2; Fig. 4 is a frontelevation of the upper part of the machine showing the heads closed uponthe bed; Fig. 5 is a top plan view; Fig. 6 is a detail view showing thelock for holding the heads closed; Fig. 7 is a detail view of thedriving control; Fig. 8 is a detail thereof showing the arrangement ofthe switch and its operating mechanism in cross section; Fig. 9 is aside elevation of this mechanism on the line 99,'Fig. 7, and on theimpossible to apply pressure to any units line 9-9, Fig. 10; Fig. 10 isan end view of parts broken away; and Fig. 11 is a detail view of themultiple plunger arrangement for transmitting power pressure to theseveral head levers.

-In the embodiment shown in the drawings, 1 represents a suitablestandard or base frame member provided with the usual upstanding .reararm 2 and the usual bed support 3, which in this instance supports asingle hollow steam heated bed member 4 carrying the two end ironingbeds 5 and the central ironing bed 6. Each of these beds is providedwith suitable padding 7. In the arrangement shown 'in the drawings, thethree beds are of thetype used for pressing the cuffs andneckso andpullsleeve 9, Fig. 3, extending out on each side of the bearing 8 andadapted to receive, for

rocking movement thereon, the side arms 10 which constitute a head levermember or support for the central or neckband ironing head I 11. At therear of the machine these lever members are provided with shaft sections12 arranged in suitable bosses 13, as shown in Figs. 11 and 5. Betweenthese bosses 13 the shaft sections receive a suitable thrust saddle 14pivoted thereon and provided with a downwardly exending lever arm 15,Fig. 2. Between the spaced side members of this saddle member and on theshaft sections isa swivel block 16, Fig 5, having an openingtherethrough for the reception of a pressure bar 17 adapted toslidefreely in the block .and at the proper time to enga e the saddle,when above it and create final pressure, as will appear.

Secured to the sleeve 9, Fig. 3, and between the bearing 8 and the righthand lever member 10 is a two-armed lever consisting of a downwardlyextending arm 18 connected by a link 19 with the saddle lever 15. Thislever also includes an upwardly extending arm 20 connected to anoperating rod 21, suitably supported, and thrust to the rear by a spring22, as shownin Figs. 2 and 5. The forward end of this rod 21'engages anoperating arm 23 mounted upon a shaft 24 supported in suitalbe bearingsupon the top of the central or neckband ironing memberi The shaft 24 isprovided with forwardly extending arms 25 connected by asuitable handle26. To the left of the bearing 8, as shown in Fig. 3, the sleeve 9 isalso provided with an upwardly extending lever 27 connected by a-link28,.

Figs. 2, 3 and 5, to the upper arm 29 of a latch 30 pivoted at 31 on thehead lever structure.

This and all similar latches are adapted to engage with a suitablekeeper 32' extending laterally from each side of the frame member 2. Theposition ofthese latches and the keeper is shown in Fig. 1

From theforegoin it willbe seen, assuming am; the center ead and itsassociated lever are in the position shown in Fig. 1,

. that the wn upon it causing the latch 30 to be disengaged and thesaddle 14 to be swung counter-clockwise, as 'shown in Fig. 1,

against the back pf the pressure bar 17. By

further downward pressure of the handle26,

this ironing head-may be brought down into engagement with the work whenthe saddle 14, which has been sliding up the back of the pressure bar,will ass over it and-final pressure 'applied, as wi 1 appear.

The oentralipressing head 11 is provided with lateral extensions 33, oneon each side,

and these are for the purpose of engaging th'e their being in pressingition when the central pressing head is side heads to insure rought downin ironing position, as will operator may grasp the handle 26 more fullyappear. Each end of the sleeve 9 is provided with a longitudinallyextending lug 34, Figs. 5 and 6, for a purpose to be described.

Within the sleeve 9 is a shaft 35 extending through the sleeve andbeyond the ends thereof where it supports the two end head levers andsince both end heads and their levers are substantially the same exceptfor being rights and lefts, a description of one will suffice for both.

Surrounding the shaft 35 is a sleeve 36 of substantially the same sizeas the sleeve 9 and carrying at its end, adjacent thereto, 9. lug 37,Figs. 5 and 6, adapted to cooperate with the lugs 34 for a purpose whichwill hereinafter appear. Surrounding this sleeve 36 is a hub 38 forminga part of the side head lever 39 having a forwardly extending portion 40carrying a side head 41 and also carrying a faced portion 42 adapted atthe proper time to be engaged by one of the lugs 33 of the center head.This lever also comprises a rearwardly extending portion 43 having abifurcated end 44 adapted to receive a swivel block 45 similar to theswivel block 16 and adapted to slidably receive a pressure bar 46similar to pressure bar 17 This swivel block is provided with trunnionsor shaft portions 47 extending out beyond the bifurcated end 44 andreceiving ears 48 of a saddle 49 similar in all respects to the saddle14. This .saddle is also provided with a downwardly extending lever 50connected by a link 51 to a downwardly extending lever 52 keyed to theslee've'36, as shown in Fig. 3.

Pivotally mounted upon a shaft 53 carried by the side lever rear portion43 is a latch 54 similar to the latch 30 and engaging the keeper 32which is extended out sufficientlly to accommodate-this engagement. Thislate 54 is also provided with an upwardly extending portion 55 connectedby a rod 56 to a lever 57 mounted upon a' shaft 58 supported in suitablebearingson top of the side head member 41. This shaft is adapted to beactuated by a suitable hand lever 59. A spring 60,- engaging between acollar 61 on the rod 56 and a suitable boss 62 on the frame, serves tomove this rod and latch toward latching position or one where it willfreely engage the keeper 32. The side ironing member on the oppositeside of the'central member 11 is of substantially the same constructionand arrangement and its operation will be obvious from the one. alreadyspecificallydescribed.

In operating thepress thusfar described, the operator places thejarticleor cuff upon one ofthe side beds and grasps the hand lever 59 of thecorresponding. side ironing head. Downward movement of this hand leverbrings about arelease of the latch 54 and further downwardmovementbrings this side ironing member into engagement with the work,where it is held by a latch.mechanisin to be described. The operatorthen proceeds through a similar operation on the other side member andwhen these two ironing members 5 are latched in ironing position anotherartipole or neckband may e placed upon the cen- "tral ironing bed andthe central press head moved down into pressing position, the lugs 33serving to insure the side head members being down. The operator thenproceeds to apply final pressure by actuating the power mechanism to bedescribed, which applies up- 1 ward movement to the pressure bars 17 and46.\ It must be borne in mind that there is no latch for the centerironing head mechanism and it must be held down by hand until power isapplied. There is a tendency for all of the heads to swing open and thisis brought about by the usual springs 63 secured to the rear 20 arms ofthe head levers and to the frame.

The latch mechanism for theside ironing heads is shown in Figs. 1, 3 and5 and it comprises a shaft 64 mounted in suitable bearings 65 upon theinside of the upstanding arm 2 of the frame. Each end of this shaftcarries an upwardly extending latch lever 66, loose upon the shaft andprovided with a forwardly extending latch lug 67 adapted to engage undera shoulder 68, Figs. 1 and 6, formed upon the hub 38 of the side headlever and at the rear, as shown. The-arrangement is such that when oneof the side head members is moved to pressing position, its shouldermoves the corresponding latch lever 66 backward, when a spring 69, Fig.1, secured to the frame and engaging an extension 70 of the latchlever66, will move the latch lug 67 under the shoulder 68 and hold thatparticular side head member in ironing position. The latch levers 66 areloose upon the shaft 64, as stated, and they are withdrawn by arms 71carried by collars 72 secured to the shaft. One of these collars isprovided with a downward extension 73 connected to the power control, aswill appear.

Power mechanism for applying final pressure to the pressure bars 17 and46 will now be described. The pressure bar 17 is provided with a crosshead 74, Figs. 2 and 11, and this cross head near each end 1s providedwith a spherical socket 75 adapted to receive a ball 76 forming a partof one of the side pressure bars 46. This ball 76 is held in place ,by asuitable ring 77 provided with screws 8. The ball and socketjointconnection between thecross head 74 and the presure bars 46 providesmeans whereby the latter may swing forward with the closing movement of*the side head members. This is clearly indicated in Fig. 1.

The pressure bar 17, Fig. 2, extends downwardly beyond the cross head 74and has a thread d end 79 threaded with a right-hand.

thread into an adjusting sleeve 80 in turn provided with a right handthread upon its exterior as at 81, threaded into a suitable threadedsocket provided at the upper end of the lower push rod member 82. Theupper end of this push rod member is provided with the power lever 86 at85 at a short distance from the ivot 87 arranged in the base or frame 1.his lever'extends diagonally upward, as shown in the drawings, and isprovided at its upper end with a slot 88 adapted to receive a crank pin89 operatively carried by a crank shaft'90. ,This crank shaft is alsoprovided with a worm wheel 91, Fig. 7, engaged by a worm 92 mounted upona motor shaft 93 anddriven by a motor 94.

It willbe seen from the foregoing when the press is open and the partsjust described are as shown in Fig. 1,that the crank pin will move thepower lever 86 in a counterclockwise direction resulting in a raising ofthe entire pressure bar mechanism thus far described, and if the headsare down and their saddles 14 and 49 are above the push rods, the powerpressure'will be applied to the work.

Presses of this type are preferably arranged so that power is appliedand released in part cycles determined by the operator.

That is to say, when'the press heads are closed the operator then startsthe motor means to means, releasing the pressure and the machine itselfstops the motor means and holds the power mechanism subject to anotheroperation.

- In the present instance, the control is -arranged 'in a casing 95secured to the frame in a suitable position to house the end of theshaft 90, which is provided with a crank 96 having a roller 97 adaptedto engage side arms 98'spaced and carried by a rack bar 99 slidablymounted in the casing and extending out through the side thereof andthere provided with a clevis 100 pivotally attached to a control rod 101extending up and slidably mounted in a bracket 102 on the underside ofthe'work board 103. The frontend of this rod is provided with a suitableknob 104 adapted for manipulation by the'o'per ator at the front of themachine. When the operator pushes .the knot F104 inward, the rack bar 99is moved to the left in Fig.7'and to the right in Fig. 9. This rack bar99 'en- 108 each of which is adapted to span contact members 109 in thecircuit of the motor 94.

When the power mechanism is in the release position, as shown in Fig. 1,and the operator wishes to start the power means, the knob 104 is pushedinward and the rack bar 99 is moved to the left, as shown in Figs. 1 and7, with the result that the contact block 107 is moved to bring theright hand contact bridge 108 into engagement with the contacts 109,thus closing the motor circuit and starting its operation. When it hasmoved the crank pin sufficiently to apply final pressure, as shown inFig. 2, the roller 97 engages one of the side arms 98 and shifts therack bar 99 to the right causing the switch to move back to the positionshown in Figs. 1 and 9 when the circuit to the motor will be broken andthe press willbe held in pressure position. It is obvious when applyingpressure in this way, that the crank pin has made a half revolution andin place of it being in the piston shown in Fig. 1, it is in theposition shown in Fig. 2. To release the press the knob 104 is pulledoutward causing the mack bar 99 to be moved to the right, Figs. 1

and 7, when the other bridge contact will be brought into engagementwith the contacts 109 and the circuit to the motor will again be closed,causing the crank pin to move 180 and releasing the power pressure. Nearthe end of the stroke of the crank 96, the roller 97 engages the otherside arm 98 and restores the switch mechanism to open position, thusstopping the press with final pressure relieved.

Heretofore in the description, the side press heads have been describedas being provided with latches, including the lugs 67 and shoulders 68for holding them closed until the center pressing member has beenclosed. Obviously, these latches must be released prior to the releaseof the power mechanism or the side press heads will not open and this isaccomplished by harnessing or connecting the latch levers 66 to thepower control. This mechanism includes a rod 110 for sliding movement ina bracket 111 on the underside of the work board 103 and connected tothe rod 101 or to the knob 104. This rod 110 extends to the rear and isprovided with a slot 112 engaging a pin 113 on the lower end of theextension 73 which is secured to the shaft 64 and operates the latchwithdrawing arms 71.

In case the spring 69, for the side head latches, has sufiicient tensionto move the rack bar 99 as well as the knob 104, when it is pulled outfor the release operation, a suitable holding means may be provided andit comprises, Fig. 9, a spring 114 applied to the casing 95 and having atit 115 adapted for engagement in a suitable recess 116 provided in therack bar.

In operation the parts of the machine are substantially in the positionshown in Fig. 1 except that all of the heads are up. The

operator places an article upon one ofthe side beds, closes thecorresponding head upon it and one 'of the latch lugs 67 enters underthe shoulder 68 and holds it in closed position. An article is thenplaced upon the other side head and the same latching effect isproduced. The two side heads are then ready for final pressure and areheld closed until released,

handle 26 moves this center head down to pressing position when thesaddle 14 will move above the pressure bar and the entlre machine isready for final pressure. This downward movement however, also bringsthe lugs 34, Fig. 5, into engagement with the lugs 37 carried by thesleeves 36 of the side press head members and moves their saddles 49above their pressure bars 46 so that when pressure is applied to thepress, through the power mechanism, all of the pressing unlts will besubjected to final pressure.

The application of final pressure to the machine is accomplished bypushin in upon the knob 104. This moves the rack ar 99 to the left inFig. 1 and causes the contacts of the switch members to engage with thestationary contacts and complete the circuit through the motor whichrevolves the crank pin 89 around to the position shown in F 1g. 2, thusmoving the lever 86 in a counterclockwise direction and applying finalpressure to the push bar structure comprising the push rod 82 as well asthe bars 17 and 46. Toward the end of the power pressure applyingoperation the roller 97 of the crank 96 engages the right hand side bar98, as shown in Fig. 1, and moves the rack bar as well as the entirecontrol including the knob 104 to the right with an accompanyingmovement of the switch member back to the position shown in Fig. 1, orto the circuit breaking position. The slot 112 in the rod 110 permitsthe movement of the controller without affect upon the latch levers 66carrying the latch lugs 67 which hold the side heads. During the powerapplying operation, the pin 113 is in the right hand end of the slot112, but when the controller is moved to neutral position, the slot andthe pin stand in the position shown in Fig. 1. When final pressure is tobe relieved, the operator pulls upon the knob 104 withdrawing the latchlug 67 from the shoulder 68 and moving the rack bar 99 withthe switchmember to the right, as shown in Fig. 1, when the circuit will be againclosed and. the power mechanism will be operated to release the pressingmembers, all of which will move up to full open latched llU position byreason of the tension upon the springs 63. The completion of the releaseoperation of the power mechanism returns the switch mechanism to neutralposition.

The press may be utilized as one where some of the heads, such as theside heads, are closed first with the remaining key or center head,closing thereafter and insuring the closing of the remaining heads, or,it may be advisible, to arrange the machine so thatall the heads, whileinde endently movable for some operators, may e closed upon the severalarticles or parts of one article by the key or central head at oneoperation and in such an arrangement, each of the levers 57, Figs. 1, 4and 5, actuated by the control lever 59 is provided'w'ith an upstandingarm or projection 117 adapted to be engaged by an arm 118 forming alever and secured to the end of the shaft 24 of the central handle 26.By this arrangement it will be seen that the work may be laid upon theseveral beds of the several press units before any of them are closedupon the work and the operator may manipulate all of the beads bygrasping the handle of the center head causing all of the latches of theseveral heads to be withdrawn and their several saddles 14: and 49 to bethrown up against the back of the pressure bars 17 and 46. Continueddownward movement of the heads ultimately results in the saddles passingabove the pressure bars and the heads being brought into pressingposition. The operator may then push the knob 104 and thereby start thepower mechanism in the application of final pressure as before: Therelease is accomplished in the same manner pursued in the otherarrangement. Such a press might be useful in various places.

where different garments were being subjected to diiferent pressingtreatments.

What I claim is:

1. A garment press comprising a frame, a plurality of bed units carriedthereby, a plurality of independent head supports mounted upon the frameand each having movement independent of the others, apress head carriedby each head support, a single power means operated from a suitablepower source, and operative connections between said power means and allof said head sup ports for applying power pressure to said heads.

2. A pressing machine comprising a frame, work supporting meanscomprising a plural ity of bed portions, a plurality of press beads onefor each bed portion and each supported upon the frame for individualclosing movement, and power means opaated from a suitable source andoperatively connected to all of said heads for" applying final pressurethereto. p

3. A pressing machine as in claim 2 wherein said connections includemeans actuated during the closing of the heads for rendering the powermeans effective to produce final connected to said push rod and to theheads for producing the final pressure.

5. A garment. press as lnclaim 1 wherein the heads and their supportsare arranged,

supported and eifectively connected for individual and gang movementtoward pressing position.

6. A garment 'press as in claim 1 wherein one of the press heads isprovided with means for connecting the same to the other press hgads forbringing about the closing there o 7. A garment press as in claim 1wherein the several heads are provided with latches for holding themopen, and individual operating mechanism for said latches.

8. A garment press as in claim 1 wherein the several heads are providedwith latches for holding them open, individual operating mechanism forsaid latches, means carried by one of said heads for releasing thelatches of the remaining heads, and connections efi'ectively connectingsaid heads whereby all the press heads may be closed in a gang.

9. A garment press as in claim. 1 wherein the operative connectionsinclude a push rod, a. separate pressure bar for each head and guided inits support, a thrust member carried by each head support, and means foropcrating said saddles to bring them into position to be operated bytheir pressure bars.

10. A garment press as a claim 1 wherein the operative connectionsinclude a push rod, 21- separate pressure bar for each head and guidedin its support, a thrust member carried by each head. support, and meansfor operating said saddles to bring them 'into position to be operatedby their pressure bars, some of said pressure bars being connected tosaid push rod by universal connections.

11. A garment press comprising a frame, a plurality of bed units carriedthereby, a plurality of independent head supports mounted upon the frameand each having movement independent of the others, a press head carriedby each head support, a single power means, operative connectionsbetween said power means and said head supports for" nature.

' BLUFORD W. BROCKETT.

